Tuesday, 21 January 2014

Cyrus Mistry Wins The 2014 DSC Prize For South Asian

Cyrus Mistry’s Chronicle of a Corpse Bearer, published by Aleph Book Company in 2012, won the 2014 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature, perhaps the most prestigious award given to a full-length work of fiction in English (or in translation into English) featuring a South Asian theme.

The prize, is given to the best work or translations of a work on or about the South Asian region. Last year the award was won by Jeet Thayil for his debut debut novel “Narcopolis”.

Mr. Mistry is the second Indian to win the award, which is running into its fourth year. His book was selected from among the six books shortlisted for the coveted prize instituted in 2010 for the best work or translation of a work on the South Asian region.

The award was won last year by Jeet Thayil for his debut novel Narcopolis . For the 2014 prize, the shortlist was announced in November last year after the DSC Prize South Asian Secretariat received about 70 entries from South Asian countries as well as from the U.S., Britain, Canada and Australia.

“I am overwhelmed and feel happy to receive it,” the recluse author told the audience after his name was announced

The author, 45, took home $50,000 in prize money. He is second Indian after Jeet Thayal to win the award, running in its fourth year.

All six books shortlisted for the prize revolved around the themes of conflict, violence and isolation. The other five nominated were: Mohsin Hamid’s “How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia”, Sri Lankan Nayomi Munaweera’s “Island of a Thousand Mirrors”, Nadeem Aslam’s “The Blind Man’s Garden” and two translations – “Book of Destruction” by Anand and Benyamin’s “Goat Days”.

“I have hoped to raise large questions that have universal presence through my work,” Mistry said.